trance

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
  2. noun a state of mind in which consciousness is fragile and voluntary action is poor or missing; a state resembling deep sleep
  3. verb attract; cause to be enamored

Etymology

From Middle English traunce, from Anglo-Norman transe (“fear of coming evil; passage from life to death”), from transir (“to be numb with fear; to die, pass on”), from Latin trānseō (“to cross over”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

enchantment, spell

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